Unrealistic Financial Goals That May Not Be Worth The Trouble

When you work hard on your finances and don’t attain unrealistic goals you’ve set for yourself, it’s easy to get discouraged and regress into irresponsibility. Pursue bite-sized, attainable landmarks on your way to financial stability and you’ll have a better chance at succeeding.

* Saving ridiculous amounts of money by couponing. Coupon ninjas are something like gamblers in that they’re quick to tell you about their big scores but conveniently leave out all the losses and unsatisfying hours of monotony that take up space between the wins. Unless you’re wholly dedicated and a little lucky, extreme couponing can amount to little more than busywork.

* Attaining a perfect credit score. Perfect credit use lands you the lowest loan and credit card rates, but sometimes it’s difficult — if not impossible — to make up for past mistakes. Your cash will always be as good as the next guy’s.

* Buying a house. In many cases it’s cheaper over the long run to buy a home rather than rent, but even free-and-clear ownership sticks you with eternal monthly fees that force you to throw money away. Property taxes, HOA fees and maintenance stick it to owners throughout their lives.